Guitar Back Removal
Source: Guitar Disassembly

Back Plate Removal:

At first thought, removing the guitar back plate can seem like quite a big task. I’m not going to minimize the importance of being careful and the need to proceed cautiously, but this task is really simplified if you take the proper steps.

Reasons for Guitar Back Plate Removal:

There can be many reasons you need to remove the back plate. Here are some of the conditions that I have seen that make a back plate removal necessary:
The Back Is Destroyed Beyond Repair
The Top Needs Extensive Repairs
The Sides Are Severely Cracked

Removal of Bindings:
Your first step in Back Plate Removal is to Remove Plastic Bindings or Remove Wood Bindings. The links to these articles will give you a step by step process as to how to do this. We won’t repeat that here. Please visit either of these articles and when you have completed the binding removal, come back here.

Removing the Back Plate:
There are several methods for removal of the back plate.

Method One:
This is used for very old or vintage instruments or one in which the glue holding the back if very brittle, cracked and already letting loose.

Take a Re-Worked Putty Knife – One with rounded edges and slip it into the back plate joint at the Guitar Waist. If the glue is old and dried out enough (and often it is) The back will start popping off with very little effort.

Keeping working the putty knife around the perimeter of the back until the back plate is completely freed.

If you encounter difficulties, it will most likely be at the head and tail block, as there is a much larger gluing surface at these points. Gently coax the knife through the joint, but minimize any prying action as the back wood on these old guitars is very dry and brittle and will be very easy to split.

Ultimate Guitar Repair Tip: Make a plate release solution made from diluted alcohol. Mix up one part alcohol, 3 parts water and a few drops of dish soap. Place this mixture in a hypodermic needle you can pick up at the drug store.

Insert the needle as far as you can into the joint and along the stubborn seam and let it set for a little while. Give the Putty Knife a try again. If still no luck, repeat.

Do this same procedure with the other block, except prop the loosened end with a block to put pressure on the opposite block.

Method Two Using a Hot Knife:
When removing a back on a newer guitar, you will need to keep a hot knife setup going during the operation. I just bought a hot glue pot, used for heating hide glue crystals and fill it will water. I dump in a few of the rework putty knifes and let them get really hot. It works best if you devise some sort a a hanger assembly to actually suspend the knifes into the water.

Experiment with how much water you want to use. Be care not to introduce too much water to the guitar as you will start to warp the back. A dry knife is best if you can get away with it. First heat it up with the glue pot, then give it a quick wipe with a rag before using it.

With persistence you will get all the way around the guitar back plate.

Tags: guitar back plate removal, Guitar Disassembly, how to remove a guitar back, how to remove a guitar top

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